Artist: Peter Doherty
Venue: Blues Kitchen, London
Date: 15th August 2011
I wouldn’t like to say how many of Doherty’s shows I have attended in the past. My love affair with all thing’s Libertines (and particularly Doherty) started in the early 2000′s and, in my opinion, they are the band who shook up English music when it needed it the most.
Without the Libertines, a lot of the fantastic music produced throughout that period and still today would have not existed.
However, I’d not seen Doherty play since his solo shows in the grandeur setting of the Royal Albert Hall back in July 2008 and I recall being disappointed at his lacklustre performance at the time. So with this in mind, and the usual Libertines’ reunion rumours in overdrive, I headed down to Blues Kitchen in Camden to see what a difference three years would make.
The rumours on this occasion had resulted from ex-Libertine Carl Barat posting a picture of himself and ‘Bilo’ on twitter (which had apparently been taken across the road in the Camden Head) and, it was evident on arrival at the packed out venue, that the crowd were hoping to catch a glimpse of the ‘likely lads’ performing again in a small intimate setting (the last time the Libertines had played together was almost a year earlier at Reading and Leeds festivals).
Now you may call me cynical, but my argument against the quartet reforming has always been that the whole excitement and passion surrounding the Libertines was due to the love affair between the two front-men, the spontaneity of their gorilla gigs, living the Arcadian dream etc and let’s be realistic their getting back together shouldn’t be about the money. Unfortunately, with these big money offers kicking about, bands seem to be reforming for the wrong reason and effectively making them ‘sell out’ leaving their real fans with a bitter taste in their mouth.
I personally would like to remember the Libertines for the ‘good old days’, watching Carl and Pete spitting into the microphone singing with their fresh sound, poetic lyrics and long dirty nights of debauchery.
So were the rumours true, were the iconic twosome about to make an appearance this afternoon? By the time I arrived at the already packed out venue, it was clear I would not be able to get near the front of the stage. Instead, I managed to stand on one of the sofas at the front of Blues Kitchen, enabling me to get a fairly good view over the audience and stage.
The crowd appeared to be a mixed bunch with Doherty diehards, suits, girls in high heels and the familiar Camden punters all here for one reason, to see Doherty’s ‘matinee show’ (Doherty at the time was still on tag after being recently released from prison).
Doherty took to the stage on time but minus his former co-front man, to the disappointment of many. He played Libertines, Babyshambles and his well-known solo tracks hence pleasing his fans, although not trying out any new material. There was also a lack of interaction with the crowd but this did not deter Doherty’s loyal fans who, as always, sang their hearts out to such classics as Don’t Look Back into the Sun, Time for the Heroes and Albion.
There was also no mention of Amy Winehouse’s tragic death which had occurred weeks before, this tribute will instead be incorporated into his performances at Reading and Leeds festival.
I was not at Doherty’s last show at Blues Kitchen in July but fans and friends inform me that his performance was ‘much stronger today’ and that he had looked a bit like ‘a deer caught in headlights’ at the previous gig, perhaps performing too soon after his release from prison.
To round things up, there was nothing new about his performance, but it was an enjoyable afternoon and good to see Doherty in great form after all this time. Personally, I would have liked to have seen some new material thrown into his set and a little more interaction with the crowd. I also remember going to see Doherty perform in similar small venues where he would sing for hours but today the audience got their promised 45 minutes with no encore which was a little disappointing but realistic due to his current circumstances.
Peter Doherty is set to headline Brixton Academy on 23rd September 2011, where he will be supported by his old pals The View, a gig HTF would highly recommend you go see!
Reviewer: Julie Elford
